Slow Food Nation, Fast

Bite-size bulletins from the Biggest Artisanal Food Event in the U.S.

There will be cheese. There will be chocolate. There will be beer, wine, and so much more. The first-ever American Slow Food event is taking place in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend, and we're so thrilled at CHOW to be a media sponsor. That means we'll be filling you in from beginning to end on the events, the speakers, the tasting pavilions, the whole Slow shebang, celebrating delicious and sustainable food in America.

Slow Food Nation is being organized by a subsidiary of Slow Food USA, the American branch of the international Slow Food movement, which was founded in Paris in 1989. Slow Food is a nonprofit organization that encourages taking time to appreciate cooking and eating, and supports the preservation of traditional food producers, farmers, and heritage breeds of animals, fruits, and vegetables.

And while you may like your food slow, we know you want your information fast. So we'll be giving you quick updates on the event as it comes together, interviews with the people behind it, and information on how to navigate what's being billed as "the largest celebration of American food in history."

The Latest from Slow Food Nation

Check back here often for updates

A Guided Tour of Slow Food Nation's Marketplace

Comedian and tour guide Melinda Bailey takes visitors on a real-time walk through Slow Food Nation's Marketplace in Civic Center, which includes farmers' booths selling single ingredients like cheese, nuts, and fruits; a large Victory Garden; and food booths making "fast" slow food such as ham sandwiches to order. Listen to this podcast as you tour the Marketplace—or, if you can't make it to San Francisco this weekend, listen for a sense of what the event will be like. Bailey works as a guide for Foot! Comedy Walking Tours and will be appearing at the SF Fringe Festival in September.

Construction Site

How is Slow Food Nation shaping up? This behind-the-scenes video shows construction at the Taste Pavilions and curators talking about their exhibits in progress. Meredith Arthur speaks with Greg Lindgren at the Spirits Pavilion, Tom Worthington and Jamie White at the Fish Pavilion, and Andy Payne and Mike Eggers at the Pickles & Chutney Pavilion.

Podcast with Slow Food Nation Beer Curator Dave McLean

Lessley Anderson speaks to and sips beer with McLean, brewmaster and owner of Magnolia Pub & Brewery. Among the quaffs they enjoy are oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale from the Stone Brewing Company, Midas Touch Golden Elixir from Dogfish Head, Magnolia's own Tweezer Tripel, and a wild card from one of the "big boys" of brewing.

Jane Goldman pulls out the Vlasics for her chat with cooking instructor Fuerst. Together they move beyond the cucumber and taste pickles of all varieties to discover that, yes, you can pickle just about anything.

Gavin Newsom, Farmer

July 21, 2008

Alice Waters, Willow Rosenthal of Oakland's City Slicker Farms, and Gavin Newsom's fiancée, Jennifer Siebel, look on as Newsom mans the trowel at Community Planting Day July 12 for San Francisco's Civic Center Victory Garden.

Podcast with Slow Food Nation Preserves Curator Casey Havre

Roxanne Webber speaks with Havre, owner of Loulou's Garden, about the difference between jams, marmalades, and jellies, and about her "backyard" concept for the booth design at Slow Food Nation. Also, Havre reveals what kind of jelly goes best with a peanut butter sandwich.

Podcast with Slow Food Nation Coffee Curator Andrew Barnett

Eric Slatkin talks with Barnett, owner of the Ecco Caffè. Barnett describes "the golden age of coffee," his visits with coffee growers, and coffee's upward trend into the highest levels of culinary life.

Podcast with Slow Food Nation Executive Director Anya Fernald

Meredith Arthur speaks with Fernald about the largest food event ever put on for the general public in the United States. Fernald answers questions about the social and political aims of the Slow Food organization (hint: It's not just for rich people).